Dreaming is complicated, living a vision is more simple

If you never have a vision bigger then yourself, you shouldn't watch
this movie, because it may looks too romantic, too limited for you. If
the present time and its rate is the maximum of your wishes, then you
shouldn't watch it. If you are too concerned about a connotations it
could contains, for the sake of your prejudices, please, do not watch
this film. This is not a story about one country/people or more, about
politics, or any other little things mentioned in this movie. It's
about a team, about living a dream of eleven and more of them, in the
time when the sport was only a game. Before I watched it I was sad and
confused, after the movie I was inspired and ready for tomorrow, what
ever that means...

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51 out of 53 people found the following review useful:

Why such negative reviews from Serbia....

Interesting comments from various reviewers from Serbia knocking this
movie as trite and unimpressive? This movie is a breath of fresh air in
comparison to the unimaginative garbage such as "A Serbian Film". Is
this a perfect movie, no by no means, but it is enjoyable to watch and
has shown some future for cinematography in present day Serbia. The
acting and direction is more than adequate for this genre of film and
the young cast holds its own throughout the film. There is nothing
wrong with "feel good" movies as they are taken precisely for what they
are. Bring on more "Montevideo's" - we are tired of the doom and gloom
in dark Serbian film making!

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50 out of 62 people found the following review useful:

outstanding...

Superb ambiance, irony, political subtext, emotional depth... this film
has it all. A film which grasps the imagination and unravels the
courage to believe in dreams. Admirable acting and a good, sturdy
script. Finally, a breath of fresh air from Serbian film-makers! The
director shows a profound understanding of the mentality and manages to
combine humor and sadness in the effort to present the times and the
historical vicissitudes of the Balkans. Even with a minimal knowledge
of 'the beautiful game', it's possible to enjoy the skills shown and
the love proffered for football.

Dream on Serbian cinematography!

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17 out of 22 people found the following review useful:

Fine sentimental film

I thought this movie would be about the 1930 World Cup that took place
in Montevideo, Uruguay. Well, not quite. It is about the Yugoslavian
players who went to that first World Cup, telling us how the team was
formed, but the movie ends before the championship begins. Perhaps in a
sequel we would see them go to Uruguay with the national team (I'm
aware, of course, that that would require a larger budget for the
movie, and that the movie market in the former Yugoslavia might be too
small to justify it).

The action in the movie occurs not just in the soccer pitch, since the
film also shows the personal lives of the players, especially the two
that were the most talented, Mosa and Tirke (how much of this is
invented I cannot tell). Besides the players, other characters appear
in the movie, for example the shoeshine boy who is a sort of the
unofficial mascot of the team or Valeriya (played by a very beautiful
actress named Nina Jankovic), a femme fatale type girl who is the lover
of more than one of the players in the team. There is a bit of
historical background also, as the country is shown recovering from the
first World War, the then king of Yugoslavia appears in a cameo role,
and so forth, but not too much.

It is a light and sentimental movie, but that's OK with me, it is a
respite for so many cynical films one sees today. Recommended, though
do not expect too much from it.

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35 out of 60 people found the following review useful:

A Light Respite from Cinematography Noir and Obscene

Let me start by saying that this film isn't a masterpiece like
Inception or Black Swan or Citizen Kane or I-don't-know-what, but it
comes with a STRONG national feeling, just this time in an optimistic
manner. So, the film is maybe encumbered with nationalistic scenes or
details, but I believe that people should learn from it, because it
show how to treat your nation's sport's team, and at the same time,
every single person in that nation.

The plot itself isn't all too interesting, but it is a fun story,
vividly depicted by young actors and actresses and there's nothing
wrong to it.

I gave this high rating because I'm really sick and tired of dark times
and even darker movies and themes, considering Serbian cinematography,
and this comes as a respite from all the excessive violence and pain
and suffering you could have encountered in other Serbian movies of
last two decades. (Not all movies are that dark,ofc)

So, if you want to give your self an hour and half of fun and a good
laugh (I know it probably lasts longer, but I felt as if it lasted for
90 mins), do not hesitate to see it...

And yes, I'm very eager to hear from foreign audience :)

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5 out of 9 people found the following review useful:

A bit contrived, but lots to like...

First, I find the Serbian reviews of this film here to be particularly
refreshing: when I watched the film for the first time, I thought it
over-exploited Serb nationalism and wasn't sure how that played out in
Serbia. I found reviews from inside Serbia to acknowledge this fact and
to be very sophisticated in their analysis of this part of the film. As
someone moving to the region shortly, it was good to see such honest
criticism.

Second, the film is not bad but there are some issues for me. I thought
it a bit too sentimental for my tastes and a bit contrived in its
plot-- with plenty of stereotypical characters, from the peasant girl
to the Croatian soccer team to the King of Yugoslavia. Another thing,
the main actors (male) are a bit too "pretty"--with lots of make-up and
stylized hair. They looked more like Parisian fashion models than
rough-and-tough soccer players.

Finally, the soundtrack is just a bit overbearing at times with sweet
violins and folk music stanzas--some scenes were dramatic enough
without the heavy, syrupy background music.

Yet, there is much to like. The photography is great, the period jazz
pieces wonderful, and the general story line nice. I saw it with an
American audience--knowledgeable about the Balkans--who "got" all the
national nuances of the difficulties between the Croats and the Serbs
in the forming of the Kingdom of Yugoslavia. In general, we all liked
it as a nice, enjoyable movie that didn't break any new ground in film
making but was accessible entertainment. Yes, we Americans do like
happy endings and this movie filled all those notches.

Bottom line: It's a nice movie, worth watching for pure light-hearted
entertainment. I gave it an eight for the great photography and the
easy to follow "beginning-middle-end" story line that successfully told
this story. I look forward to the sequel as I learn this very difficult
Serbian language (yes, I still need the subtitles for a bit more time!)

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A long-lost era before football became overrun by corruption, mobsters and rugby-like tackling.

This movie's theme (and period setting) is too interesting to not be
successful. A really clueless amateur would have been needed to make a
bad film with this solid budget (in Balkan terms) and this fun premise.
Dragan Bjelogrlic isn't a particularly gifted director, but with the
help of a solid script and a very decent acting crew, the result is
fairly entertaining.

The first positive thing I'd point out is that this isn't yet another
modern Serbian production in which the same, predictable, and generally
not particularly good stable of actors dominate. In other words, Dragan
himself isn't in it (not a bad actor, but hardly an acting great); the
overrated Srdjan Todorovic only has a minor role, and he doesn't find
the opportunity to clown around in it (as he usually does, and badly);
Djuricko is even quite solid because he'd toned down his overacting as
well; only Sergej Trifunovic gets more screen time than I'd prefer,
even though his role is also fairly marginal. Sergej is highly
overrated, unlikable, uncharismatic, and even though he is suitable to
be cast in the role of an arrogant jerk, I believe many other domestic
actors could have done the job better than him. It doesn't surprise
that Mima Karadzic, Marko Nikolic and the guy playing the barber are
among those who offer the best performances in this cast of mostly
young actors. Although to be fair, the roles of the football players
have been quite well cast, which I didn't expect. It seems that
nepotism and other such forms of you-scratch-my-back-I'll-scratch-yours
didn't dominate the casting process nearly as much as they usually do
in Serbian TV or movie productions. Hence a much better film than one
would normally expect.

It's also positive that female roles were also not necessarily
allocated according to the increasingly domineering rules of
it's-who-you-know-not-how-good-you-are. (No Katarina Radivojevic, just
to mention one of many inferior nepotist Serb actresses.) On the other
hand, the TV-series version of the movie does feature a lot of sub-par
actresses many of whom obviously have family connections to thank for
starting movie careers. I guess Bjelogrlic tried to save the best for
the big screen.

The story unfolds well. The only criticism I have is the exaggerated
and unrealistic love-square between the team's two star players, Rosa,
and the sleazy artist wannabe. That whole commotion centered on the
"love letters" didn't make much sense. Plus, the character of the
femme-fatale night-club floozy is over-the-top, her behaviour being
even more absurd in the TV series.

Period detail is kept as well as the budget allowed. The only minor
criticism is of the lyrics of the song performed in the hipster night
club; I believe they might be too racy for the 20s. I realize that this
night-club represents the height of sleaze of that period and that such
people were already pushing the boundaries of good taste, but the
sexual nature of the song seems out-of-place i.e. out-of-time,
especially since this song is then played again during the credits. I
also doubt that regular waitresses of the period showed nearly as much
cleavage as Tirke's love-interest Rosa does. She works in a regular
café, not a night-club. Perhaps the writers, the costume department or
the director got a little carried away, forgetting that this is set in
Yugoslavia's post-WWI period.

There is a certain amount of political commentary, which may or may not
be justified. Certainly, looking for the King to finance the trip to
Uruguay automatically has to involve a degree of politics, and if the
team's main defense player really was an outspoken Commie, then that's
perfectly valid to mention as well. The important thing is that the
script offers differing viewpoints on the dominant hot-potato issues of
the day, and doesn't take sides. Personally, I would have kept the
ideological subtext to a minimum, because this is a sports comedy,
essentially.

Any movie that shows football as it used to be ("rich people watching
poor people play"  which is slightly exaggerated by has some ironic
truth to it) and as it's supposed to be is welcome. While the match and
practice scenes may be a tad inundated with over-skillfulness (which
doesn't bother me, i.e. a legitimate cinematic exaggeration), they show
a beautiful game that was a far cry from the injury-faking, the
acting-out (fake emotions, players performing as in a Greek theater),
the unnecessary brutal tackles that slow down the game, the lack of
goals, all the tattooed morons with moronic haircuts  i.e. all that
stuff that pollutes modern football, making it so appealing to
blood-thirsty plebs. The modern version of this once-great game has
turned into a gladiator sport in which the outdated, easily-bent rules
are subject to global misuse by mobsters and corrupt politicians who
rule FIFA and UEFA like dictators. This is part of the movie's charm;
reminding not just of a more innocent time culturally, but
football-wise, as well.

I would like to know how true the film is historically, as far as the
accuracy of how events leading up to the World Cup unfold, and how many
liberties the screenwriters took when it comes to the football
characters and those around them.

All in all, a well-made movie which never gets boring in spite of its
length of well over two hours, which is a success in itself.

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12 out of 26 people found the following review useful:

The story of the Serbian football team who won the World Cup, and how they became a team.

This is the most enjoyable film I've seen in a long time. The script is
really wonderful, very funny and touching, it tells the story of men
who had nothing but a crazy dream, and the will to do anything to make
it happen. It also tells the story of an entire era, of a country
trying to rebuild itself, and its identity...

The acting also was really good, this might just be me, but I felt like
I could feel the joy of the cast at being a part of the movie emanating
off the screen. The scenes were also more than beautiful, the scenery
told everything the script could not, it showed the Belgrade that
existed in the 1930s, and the simplicity of football back then.

All of this was topped off by an amazing music score, I knew the song
"Samo Malo" by Magnifico, and I loved it, but I hadn't heard the
instrumental parts.... so beautiful, so touching, simply indescribable.

I don't know what else to say, all my congratulations to the cast and
crew, especially to the scriptwriters, director and the composers, they
made a masterpiece that leaves you with awe, and a wish to do that
something you've always dreamed of doing.

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17 out of 56 people found the following review useful:

Not bad but still

got lot of flaws in this Serbian movie. All the actors were nicely cast
and performed. But I happened to noticed that there were lot of items
that should not and could not exist appeared in this movie: Plastic
molded tables and chairs outside of the tavern, cigarettes with
filters, complicated patterned nylon pantyhose that only modern days
could make them. But these young guys who played the early time soccer
team were pretty good and they could play raw eggs with their legs,
thighs, and feet were just fascinating. The romances between two
couples were a bit lame and contrite. There were quite a lot of
comedian-like characters in this movie, but thank God, I sat through
out the whole movie and actually enjoyed it quite a bit. All the young
men and women were quite handsome and pretty, one of the reasons that
kept this movie worth watching to the end.

Good But Could Be Better

OK, movie is not bad! But.. Like first.Anyone who watched movie Goal!
will see some connection between those two movies.It's not something
big, but it falls into the eye.

It is about dream, dream of young men to do something with their
lives.Even though football wasn't popular in those '30, they still
wanted it. And it is about young man who grew up without his father,
who died in First WW.And all he can do and want to do is play
football.And his way to the top of his world.Started playing for a
local club,one of the strongest in those times.And his friendship with
the best player and most expensive in the team.Of course, it wouldn't
be movie without some love.And of course it is between two best friends
because of two different girls.But, if you ask me, the best part of the
movie is rivalry between Rajko and Blagoje, two best friends and fans
of different times.And their enthusiasm for their teams.Anyone could
recognize himself,if they are fans. And this movies is made on a true
story.

Movie is not bad, if you look that it's coming from the country which
was bombarded 10 years ago. And I have praise for acting. All of the
actors did great job.Congralutions for that. It's good movies,but it
would be better if there is not those connections with Goal!. But the
journey just began. We'll what will happen in Montevideo..